Archive for Refrigerator

If you find that your refrigerator is cooling poorly it maybe because the defrost timer has failed and needs to be replaced.

As I found was the case today with a Frigidaire FRT18IL6DS refrigerator I was called out to repair.

When I looked inside the freezer and noticed all the frost build up I was sure the refrigerator had a probably with it’s defrost system.

I tested the defrost thermostat and defrost heater for continuity with my multimeter. Both the defrost thermostat and the defrost heater tested ok so I went ahead and replace the deforest timer, part # 215846602

Clean the tray under the refrigerator with a bleach solution and sprinkle with salt every six months.

The tray is a veritable mold magnet. Adding salt reduces the growth of mold and bacteria. Also, clean under the fridge occasionally; food can become trapped there, become moldy, and the mold spores are blown into the kitchen air every time the compressor kicks in.

Also be sure to vacuum out the coils at the bottom of the refrigerator at least once a year, more often if you have pets. Keeping the coils clean will help it run more efficient and extend the life of the compressor.

Every 8 hours of compressor run time defrost timer activates radiant electric defrost heater suspended from evaporator. After about 20-30 minutes (depending on the timer used) of defrost cycle time, timer restores circuit to compressor.

Defrost terminator (thermostat) is wired in series with defrost heater. Terminator opens and breaks circuit when preset high temperature is reached. After defrost thermostat opens, thermostat remains open until end of defrost cycle when cooling cycle starts and terminator senses present low temperature and closes.

Defrost heater is suspended from the evaporator coil across the bottom to keep defrost drain free flowing during defrost. Defrost water is caught in trough under evaporator coil and flows through drain hole in liner and drain tubing into drain pan. Air circulated by condenser fan over pan evaporates water.

Adaptive Defrost System (Electronic Control Board)

The ADC adapts the compressor run time between defrosts to achieve optimum defrost intervals by monitoring the cold control and length the defrost heater is on.